Eating smart is taking care of your heart. These days the food that we take are filled with too much saturated fat and that is the main cause of high cholesterol levels which in turn is bad for the heart. It is recommended that we keep to less than 10 percent of saturated fat intake. Learn some tips as to how.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Take Care of Your Heart
Eating smart is taking care of your heart. These days the food that we take are filled with too much saturated fat and that is the main cause of high cholesterol levels which in turn is bad for the heart. It is recommended that we keep to less than 10 percent of saturated fat intake. Learn some tips as to how.
Sunday, October 8, 2006
How to Use the Nutrition Facts Label
Most of us do not bother to read the nutrition facts label on packages. Probably, it's about time that we do so that we have enough facts to make informed decisions about buying food. Here's a guide on how to read the Nutrition Facts label.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Water Wise
Do you make this common mistake? Waiting until you¹re thirsty before taking a drink of water. Thirst isn¹t an early signal of water needs; it¹s a warning sign that you¹re dehydrated and need to drink up - and fast. By the time you feel thirsty you have already lost over 1 percent of your total body water. Some subtle signs of dehydration include dry lips, dark colored urine, muscle or joint soreness, headaches, crankiness, fatigue and constipation. More serious complications caused by extreme dehydration include seizures, permanent brain damage, or even death.
In addition to water, milk, juice and soup count toward your daily fluid intake because of their high water content. But don¹t include alcohol, coffee, tea, and soft drinks that contain caffeine as they may have a mild diuretic effect. Caffeine can hold back water from the tissues that need it. Since your body is nearly two-thirds water, it is important to stay ahead of dehydration. If you are out in hot, humid weather or exercising vigorously you need to replace 150% of the amount of water lost to keep hydrated. If you lose 1 pound of sweat during a workout (16 ounces) you need 24 ounces of fluid to rehydrate. The message is crystal clear: Drink plenty of water every day.
Nutrition Actions to Increase Water Intake
-Take water breaks instead of coffee breaks.
- Choose water instead of soft drinks or coffee.
- Drink water before meals and snacks.
- Drink water before, during and after any physical activity.
- Keep a bottle of water on your desk to sip from throughout the work day.
- Alternate sparkling or plain bottled water with alcoholic drinks at parties and social gatherings.
Source: Nutrition Resource
In addition to water, milk, juice and soup count toward your daily fluid intake because of their high water content. But don¹t include alcohol, coffee, tea, and soft drinks that contain caffeine as they may have a mild diuretic effect. Caffeine can hold back water from the tissues that need it. Since your body is nearly two-thirds water, it is important to stay ahead of dehydration. If you are out in hot, humid weather or exercising vigorously you need to replace 150% of the amount of water lost to keep hydrated. If you lose 1 pound of sweat during a workout (16 ounces) you need 24 ounces of fluid to rehydrate. The message is crystal clear: Drink plenty of water every day.
Nutrition Actions to Increase Water Intake
-Take water breaks instead of coffee breaks.
- Choose water instead of soft drinks or coffee.
- Drink water before meals and snacks.
- Drink water before, during and after any physical activity.
- Keep a bottle of water on your desk to sip from throughout the work day.
- Alternate sparkling or plain bottled water with alcoholic drinks at parties and social gatherings.
Source: Nutrition Resource
Monday, December 19, 2005
Smoking is bad for health, no?
Private clubs and pubs not serving food will be unaffected
Smoke plans 'unworkable' say MPs
Plans for a partial ban on smoking in public places in England are "unfair, unjust, inefficient and unworkable", an influential committee of MPs says.
The Commons health select committee says a total ban is the "only effective means" of protecting public health.
The Health Bill would allow smoking to continue in private clubs and pubs which do not serve food.
Read ...Smoke plans 'unworkable' say MPs...BBC News
Wednesday, December 7, 2005
The goodness of Cabbage
Cabbage is a good source of vitamins C, A, B1 and B2
Cabbage has a long history of use as both food and medicine.
Cabbage is a good source of vitamins C, A, B1 and B2. The vegetable was used by sailors to prevent scurvy which causes bleeding gums and skin discoloration, which is due to deficiency of vitamin C. Just one cup of fresh cabbage supplies about 35mg of vitamin C or half of the daily requirement of the vitamin.
The vegetable contains a reasonably good profile of amino acids especially glutamine and S-methylmethionine, which are the preferred fuels for cells that line the stomach and small intestine. These two components that makes cabbage juice effective in healing peptic ulcers.
Since ancient times, cabbage has been used as a remedy for the digestive system, skin problems, fever, and a fortifier for aching joints.
Eating raw cabbage before participating in wine drinking competitions was believed to prevent one from getting drunk.
Read article: Craving for cabbage...The Star
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Colds and contact lenses
Short takes from The Star on health:
Colds and contact lenses
People should not wear contact lenses when they have a cold, according to a top German expert.
Gerald Boehme, head of the contact lens department of Duesseldorf’s Ophthalmologists Association, says those who fail to heed this advice could get eye infections if they cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, and then rub their eyes.
Soft lenses are particularly prone to collecting germs that may cause conjunctivitis or inflammation of the cornea, he says.
Boehm advises people not to touch their eyes in general – except in the morning, when they should wipe them with a clean washcloth.
“And children should be taught to keep their fingers out of their eyes,” he says.
Increased diabetes risk for men
Sleep disturbances appear to increase the risk of developing diabetes in men but not in women, according to a Swedish study. Dr Lena Mallon, from University Hospital in Uppsala and her associates sent questionnaires regarding sleep complaints and other possible risk factors for diabetes to a random sample of subjects who were 45 to 65 years old in 1983, and again in 1995. A total of 1187 subjects completed both questionnaires.
Spinal arthritis
Exercise programmes are beneficial for people with a type of arthritis affecting the spine – ankylosing spondylitis (AS) – Norwegian researchers report, although it is not clear which type of protocol is best. Dr Hanne Dagfinrud of the University of Oslo and colleagues reviewed of 43 studies involving exercise and AS and eventually scrutinized data on a total of 561 patients in six trials.
Reducing risk of breast cancer
Regular exercise reduces the risk of breast cancer, according to the Komen Association for the Treatment of Breast Cancer in Bad Homburg, Germany.
The association says that moderate exercise also impedes the disease’s progress and is important after breast-cancer treatment, since it helps alleviate typical tiredness.
While regular moderate exercise strengthens the body’s immune system, Komen says, strenuous exercise has a negative effect. It says an hour of exercise three times a week is enough to strengthen the immune system.
Improving bone mass
Older adults who’ve suffered a stroke may be able to improve their fitness and protect their bone mass with specially designed exercise classes, according to Canadian researchers. Their study of 63 stroke survivors found that those who took part in a supervised exercise programme became fitter, stronger and more mobile than those who participated in limited physical activity.
Oral tobacco
Smokeless oral tobacco products such as moist snuff and hard snuff lozenges are not a safe alternative to cigarettes for people trying to kick the habit, as these products contain high levels of cancer-causing compounds.
Instead, the best aids appear to be medicinal nicotine replacement products such as the nicotine patch or gum as these products contain only trace amounts of cancer-causing compounds, according to research presented at a cancer prevention conference in Baltimore this month. – Sources: Reuters, dpa
Colds and contact lenses
People should not wear contact lenses when they have a cold, according to a top German expert.
Gerald Boehme, head of the contact lens department of Duesseldorf’s Ophthalmologists Association, says those who fail to heed this advice could get eye infections if they cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, and then rub their eyes.
Soft lenses are particularly prone to collecting germs that may cause conjunctivitis or inflammation of the cornea, he says.
Boehm advises people not to touch their eyes in general – except in the morning, when they should wipe them with a clean washcloth.
“And children should be taught to keep their fingers out of their eyes,” he says.
Increased diabetes risk for men
Sleep disturbances appear to increase the risk of developing diabetes in men but not in women, according to a Swedish study. Dr Lena Mallon, from University Hospital in Uppsala and her associates sent questionnaires regarding sleep complaints and other possible risk factors for diabetes to a random sample of subjects who were 45 to 65 years old in 1983, and again in 1995. A total of 1187 subjects completed both questionnaires.
Spinal arthritis
Exercise programmes are beneficial for people with a type of arthritis affecting the spine – ankylosing spondylitis (AS) – Norwegian researchers report, although it is not clear which type of protocol is best. Dr Hanne Dagfinrud of the University of Oslo and colleagues reviewed of 43 studies involving exercise and AS and eventually scrutinized data on a total of 561 patients in six trials.
Reducing risk of breast cancer
Regular exercise reduces the risk of breast cancer, according to the Komen Association for the Treatment of Breast Cancer in Bad Homburg, Germany.
The association says that moderate exercise also impedes the disease’s progress and is important after breast-cancer treatment, since it helps alleviate typical tiredness.
While regular moderate exercise strengthens the body’s immune system, Komen says, strenuous exercise has a negative effect. It says an hour of exercise three times a week is enough to strengthen the immune system.
Improving bone mass
Older adults who’ve suffered a stroke may be able to improve their fitness and protect their bone mass with specially designed exercise classes, according to Canadian researchers. Their study of 63 stroke survivors found that those who took part in a supervised exercise programme became fitter, stronger and more mobile than those who participated in limited physical activity.
Oral tobacco
Smokeless oral tobacco products such as moist snuff and hard snuff lozenges are not a safe alternative to cigarettes for people trying to kick the habit, as these products contain high levels of cancer-causing compounds.
Instead, the best aids appear to be medicinal nicotine replacement products such as the nicotine patch or gum as these products contain only trace amounts of cancer-causing compounds, according to research presented at a cancer prevention conference in Baltimore this month. – Sources: Reuters, dpa
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Meal myths
This site puts some meal myths in the right perspective. One such is
Myth:
Eating after 8 p.m. causes weight gain.
Fact:
It does not matter what time of day you eat. It is what and how much you eat and how much physical activity you do during the whole day that determines whether you gain, lose, or maintain your weight. No matter when you eat, your body will store extra calories as fat.
Tip:
If you want to have a snack before bedtime, think first about how many calories you have eaten that day. And try to avoid snacking in front of the TV at night it may be easier to overeat when you are distracted by the television.
Myth:
Eating after 8 p.m. causes weight gain.
Fact:
It does not matter what time of day you eat. It is what and how much you eat and how much physical activity you do during the whole day that determines whether you gain, lose, or maintain your weight. No matter when you eat, your body will store extra calories as fat.
Tip:
If you want to have a snack before bedtime, think first about how many calories you have eaten that day. And try to avoid snacking in front of the TV at night it may be easier to overeat when you are distracted by the television.
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